Data recording and reproducing apparatus having a data transfer device selectively transferring data between multiple data recording and reproducing devices

ABSTRACT

A data recording and reproducing apparatus which can easily perform the editing of audio and/or visual data even at the camera site. In the data recording and reproducing apparatus, a VTR portion and an MO disc portion are integrally constituted. Audio and/or visual data input from an outside apparatus is recorded on a video tape by the VTR portion, and further reproduced from the video tape and transferred to the MO disc device at a high speed and recorded. The user of the data recording and reproducing apparatus quickly finds the desired video image by actively utilizing the random access property of the MO disc device and sequentially inputs the same to the VTR device, records the same on the video tape, and performs the editing of the audio and/or visual data.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/563,188, filed on Nov. 27, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,888,998,the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data recording and reproducingapparatus which records and reproduces a digital audio and/or visual(video) signal.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, for editing work of video data, audio data, etc., there hasbeen adopted the method of connecting a plurality of VTR apparatuses(video tape recorders), reproducing the video data etc. by therespective VTR apparatuses to find the required video images, andconnecting the located plurality of video data to one video data.

When the editing of the video data is carried out by using theabove-mentioned method, however, it suffers from the disadvantages thatthe VTR apparatus can perform basically only a sequential access and, inaddition, a long time is taken for the editing work since the datatransfer rate when a plurality of video data are connected to one videodata is restricted by the reproduction data rate of the VTR apparatus.

Further, there has been a demand for enabling editing of the video dataetc. at the site where news was shot. However, sometimes it is notpossible to provide a number of VTR devices at the camera site andtherefore it is not possible to meet this demand in many cases. On theother hand, even if a plurality of VTR devices can be provided, itgreatly reduces the mobility of the news crew it they have to carry aplurality of VTR devices together with the camera equipment.

Moreover, also in a case where the edited video data etc. are to betransferred, it suffers from the disadvantages that the transmissiondata rate is restricted by the reproduction data rate of the VTR device,the transmission can be carried out only with a low transmission datarate, and the method of transmission of the video data from the camerasite to the broadcast station is restricted. It is not impossible tochange the reproduction data rate of the VTR device to any value inaccordance with the transmission data rate. However, it suffers from thedisadvantage in that such a VTR device would have to be a special onewhich has a more complex structure than the usual VTR device and is moreexpensive in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made in consideration with the above-mentioneddisadvantages of the related art and has as an object thereof to providea data recording and reproducing apparatus which does not require aplurality of VTR devices for performing the editing work of video dataand can easily perform the editing of the video data even at the camerasite.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data recordingand reproducing apparatus which has a simple structure and isinexpensive in cost while making the reproduction data rate variable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a datarecording and reproducing apparatus in which the recording andreproduction data rate and the transmission data rate are variable andwhich can enhance the efficiency of the editing work by improving thetransfer data rate when a plurality of video data are connected to onevideo data.

Moreover, another object of the present invention is to provide a datarecording and reproducing apparatus which can transmit the video dataobtained as a result of editing at a plurality of transmission datarates and has little restrictions in the method of transmission.

So as to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the data recording andreproducing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in thata disc recording and reproducing means, a tape recording and reproducingmeans, a data transfer means, a first input/output means, and a secondinput/output means are integrally assembled; the disc recording andreproducing means records audio and/or visual data including audio-data,and video-data, audio-data or video-data, i.e. audio and/or visual data,transferred from the data transfer means in a disc recording medium towhich random access is possible and reproduces the audio and/or visualdata from the disc recording medium and outputs the same to the datatransfer means; the tape recording and reproducing means records theaudio and/or visual data transferred from the data transfer means in thetape recording medium and reproduces the audio and/or visual data fromthe tape recording medium and outputs the same to the data transfermeans; the data transfer means transfers the audio and/or visual dataamong any of the elements selected from among the disc recording andreproducing means, the tape recording and reproducing means, the firstinput/output means, and the second input/output means; the firstinput/output means receives an analog audio and/or visual signal from anoutside apparatus, converts the same to audio and/or visual data of adigital format, and outputs the same to the data transfer means andconverts the audio and/or visual data transferred from the data transfermeans to an audio and/or visual signal of the analog format and outputsthe same to an outside apparatus; and the second input/output meansreceives audio and/or visual data from a communication line connected toan outside apparatus and outputs the same to the data transfer means andoutputs the audio and/or visual data transferred from the data transfermeans to a communication line connected to an outside apparatus.

The disc recording and reproducing means is for example a magneto-optic(MO) disc device and records and reproduces the audio and/or visual datawith respect to a disc recording medium such as an MO disc medium towhich random access is possible.

The tape recording and reproducing means is for example a VTR device andrecords and reproduces the audio and/or visual data with respect to thetape recording medium such as a video tape recording medium to whichsubstantially only a sequential access at a plurality of reproductiondata rates is possible.

The data transfer means transfers the audio and/or visual data in anydirection among a disc recording and reproducing means, the taperecording and reproducing means, and the input/output means, that is,for example, a direction from the disc recording and reproducing meansto the tape recording and reproducing means and an inverse directionthereof and a direction from the disc recording and reproducing means tothe tape recording and reproducing means and the input/output means and,at the same time, adjusts the timing of input/output of the audio and/orvisual data among them.

The first input/output means converts audio and/or visual datatransferred from the data transfer means to an audio and/or visual imagesignal of an analog format and outputs the same to an outside apparatusand converts an audio and/or visual image signal received from anoutside apparatus to digital audio and/or visual data and outputs thesame to the data transfer means.

The second input/output means transmits or receives the audio and/orvisual data between the data transfer means and a predetermined digitalcommunication line.

In the data recording and reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention, by accommodating these constituent parts in one housing, theportability is enhanced and the usefulness at the location of voice andvideo images is enhanced.

Preferably, the disc recording and reproducing means records audioand/or visual data which was reproduced from the tape recording mediumby the tape recording and reproducing means and transferred by the datatransfer means and the audio and/or visual data which was received bythe first input/output means and the second input/output means andtransferred by the data transfer means in the disc recording medium andthe tape recording and reproducing means records the audio and/or visualdata which was reproduced from the disc recording medium by the discrecording and reproducing means and the audio and/or visual data whichwas received by the first input/output means and the second input/outputmeans and transferred by the data transfer means in the tape recordingmedium.

Preferably, the data transfer means has an input buffering meansperforming the buffering of the audio and/or visual data input from thedisc recording and reproducing means; an output buffering meansperforming the buffering of the audio and/or visual data which istransferred to the disc recording and reproducing means; and a recordingand reproduction control means controlling each of the reproductionoperation and recording operation of the disc recording and reproducingmeans in accordance with respective remaining recording capacities ofthe input buffering means and the output buffering means.

Preferably, the recording and reproduction control means starts thereproduction operation of the disc recording and reproducing means wherethe remaining storage capacity of the input buffering means becomeslarger than a predetermined value and stops the reproduction operationof the disc recording and reproducing means where the remaining storagecapacity of the input buffering means becomes a predetermined value orless.

Preferably, the tape recording means reproduces the audio and/or visualdata at the data rate with which the data transfer means receives theaudio and/or visual data and records the audio and/or visual data at thedata rate with which the data transfer means transfers the audio and/orvisual data.

Preferably, the first input/output means has a digital/analog conversionmeans for converting the audio and/or visual data of a digital formatfrom the data transfer means to an audio and/or visual signal of ananalog format and outputting the same to an outside apparatus and ananalog/digital conversion means for converting an audio and/or visualsignal of an analog format from an outside apparatus to audio and/orvisual data of a digital format and outputting the same to the datatransfer means.

Preferably, the second input/output means has a data output means forconverting audio and/or visual data of a parallel format from the datatransfer means to audio and/or visual data of a serial format andoutputting the same to a predetermined communication line of the outsideapparatus and a data reception means for receiving audio and/or visualdata of a serial format from a predetermined communication line of anoutside apparatus and converting the same to audio and/or visual data ofa parallel format and outputting the same to the data transfer means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbe more apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a data recording andreproducing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a recording track on a video tape shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a detailed configuration of the data recordingand reproducing apparatus according to the present invention shown inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing control of an operation of an MO discdevice by a buffer control circuit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a tape running system ofthe VTR device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a view showing the configuration of the MO disc device shownin FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a data recording andreproducing apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a recording track 112 _(i) (i is an integer) ona video tape 110 shown in FIG. 1.

First, an explanation will be made of the configuration of the datarecording and reproducing apparatus 1 and the operation of therespective constituent elements.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 isconstituted by a VTR portion 10, a video interface circuit (video IFcircuit) 24, an MO disc portion 30, a data transfer circuit 40, adigital interface circuit (digital IF circuit) 44, and a control circuit(CPU) 50.

Note that the constituent parts of the data recording and reproducingapparatus 1 are integrally accommodated in one housing 5 so as to giveconvenience in carrying and handling.

The VTR portion 10 is constituted by a VTR device 12, a REC amplifier(record/playback: REC/PB amplifier) 14, a channel modulation anddecoding circuit (channel code ENDEC) 16, and an error correction codegenerating/error correction circuit (ECC circuit) 18.

The MO disc portion 30 is constituted by an MO disc device 32, a lasercontrol circuit 34, a channel modulation and decoding circuit 36, and anECC circuit 38.

Note that, in actuality, due to the control by the control circuit 50,the constituent elements of the VTR portion 10 and the MO disc portion30 and the control circuit 50 are connected by control signal lines, butthese are omitted for simplification of the illustration.

In the VTR portion 10, the VTR device 12 performs the recording andreproduction of audio and/or visual data including audio-data andvideo-data, audio-data, or video data, i.e. audio and/or video data of adigital format with respect to the video tape 110. The VTR portion 10has two operation modes of, for example, normal recording andreproduction and high speed recording and reproduction, and outputs theaudio and/or visual data at two recording and reproduction ratescorresponding to the operation modes.

Where the reproduction data rate is changed and the audio and/or visualdata is reproduced from the video tape 110, the speed of feeding thevideo tape 110 and the rotational speed of the recording andreproduction head are changed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, it issufficient so far as the VTR device 12 is controlled so that a combinedvector c of a vector a expressing the speed of advance of the video tape110 and a vector b indicating the path of the recording and reproductionhead where the video tape 110 is stopped follows the recording track 112_(i) of the video tape 110.

The REC amplifier 14 drives the recording head of the VTR device 12 whenrecording digital audio and/or visual data on the video tape 110 andamplifies the reproduction signal from the VTR device 12 whenreproducing audio and/or visual data from the video tape 110.

The channel modulation and decoding circuit 16 matches thecharacteristic of the recording and reproduction system (notillustrated) of the VTR device 12 and the characteristic of the audioand/or visual data input and output between the ECC circuit 18 and thechannel modulation and decoding circuit 16 so as to make efficientrecording and reproduction possible.

The ECC circuit 18 adds the error correction code (ECC) to the audioand/or visual data input from the signal processor 20 and performs theerror correction thereof by using the ECC contained in the audio and/orvisual data input from the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16.

The signal processor 20 has a switching circuit, an analog/digitalconversion circuit, and a digital/analog conversion circuit, etc.,converts the digital audio and/or visual data input from the ECC circuit18 or the data transfer circuit 40 to an analog audio and/or visualsignal and outputs the same to the video IF circuit 24, and converts ananalog audio and/or visual signal input from the video IF circuit 24 todigital audio and/or visual data and outputs the same to the ECC circuit18 or the data transfer circuit 40.

The video IF circuit 24 outputs the audio and/or visual image signal(AOUT) input from the signal processor 20 to an outside apparatus andoutputs the audio and/or visual signal (AIN) input from an outsideapparatus to the signal processor 20.

In the MO disc portion 30, the MO disc device 32 performs the recordingand reproduction of the digital audio and/or visual data with respect tothe MO disc 300.

The laser control circuit 34 controls the output of the laser diode (notillustrated) of the optical system 320 of the MO disc device 32.

The channel modulation and decoding circuit 36 matches thecharacteristic of the optical system 320 of the MO disc device 32 andthe characteristic of the audio and/or visual data input and outputbetween the ECC circuit 38 and the channel modulation and decodingcircuit 36 so as to make efficient recording and reproduction possible.

The ECC circuit 38 adds the error correction code (ECC) to the audioand/or visual data input from the data transfer circuit 40 and performsthe error correction thereof by using the ECC contained in the audioand/or visual data input from the channel modulation and decodingcircuit 36.

The data transfer circuit 40 performs the buffering of the audio and/orvisual data input from the signal processor 20 or the ECC circuit 38 andoutputs the same to the signal processor 20, ECC circuit 38, or thedigital IF circuit 44.

That is, the data transfer circuit 40 transfers the audio and/or visualdata reproduced by the VTR device 12 to the MO disc device 32, the videoIF circuit 24, and the digital IF circuit 44 according to the control ofthe control circuit 50 based on the operation data and transfers theaudio and/or visual data reproduced by the MO disc device 32 to the VTRdevice 12, the video IF circuit 24, and the digital IF circuit 44.

The digital IF circuit 44 outputs the audio and/or visual data inputfrom an outside apparatus to the data transfer circuit 40 at adesignated transmission data rate (DOUT) and outputs audio and/or visualdata (DIN) input from an outside apparatus to the data transfer circuit40 at a designated transmission data rate.

The control circuit 50 controls the operation of the constituentelements of the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 according tothe operation information input from an outside apparatus. Also, asexplained referring to the first embodiment, where a buffer memory isused in place of the data transfer circuit 40, the control circuit 50monitors the empty storage capacity of this buffer memory and controlsthe recording and reproduction operation etc. of the VTR device 12 andthe MO disc device 32 so that an overflow will not occur.

Note that, in the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1, the MOdisc device 32 corresponds to the disc recording and reproducing meansaccording to the present invention; the MO disc 300 corresponds to thedisc recording medium according to the present invention; the VTR device12 corresponds to the tape recording and reproducing means according tothe present invention; the video tape 110 corresponds to the taperecording medium according to the present invention; the signalprocessor 20 and the data transfer circuit 40 correspond to the datatransfer means according to the present invention; and the video IFcircuit 24 and the digital IF circuit 44 respectively correspond to thefirst input/output means and second input/output means according to thepresent invention.

Below, the operation of the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1will be explained.

The video IF circuit 24 of the data recording and reproducing apparatus1 has connected to it, for example, a video camera which inputs theanalog audio and/or visual image signal to the data recording andreproducing apparatus 1 and a monitor device (not illustrated) whichdisplays the audio and/or visual data output from the data recording andreproducing apparatus 1. The digital IF circuit 44 has connected to it,for example, a communication line through which the audio and/or visualdata is transmitted at the predetermined transmission data rate or thetransmission device. The control circuit 50 receives as input operationinformation from the operator of the data recording and reproducingapparatus 1.

The analog audio and/or visual signal is sequentially input to the videoIF circuit 24 from the video camera connected to the data recording andreproducing apparatus 1.

According to the control of the control circuit 50, the audio and/orvisual signal input to the video IF circuit 24 is converted to digitalaudio and/or visual data, the data is subjected to predeterminedprocessing by the signal processor 20, the ECC is added by the ECCcircuit 18, and the result is input to the VTR device 12 via the channelmodulation and decoding circuit 16 and the REC amplifier 14. In the VTRdevice, recording is carried out on the inserted video tape 110 at therecording data rate of normal recording and reproduction.

When the input of the audio and/or visual image signal is ended, theoperator of the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 makes the VTRdevice 12 reproduce the audio and/or visual data at the reproductiondata rate of high speed recording and reproduction and, at the sametime, inputs operation information indicating that the audio and/orvisual data reproduced by the VTR device 12 has been recorded at therecording data rate of the high speed recording and reproduction to theMO disc device 32.

The control circuit 50 controls the constituent parts of the datarecording and reproducing apparatus 1 according to this operationinformation.

The VTR device 12 reproduces the audio and/or visual data from the videotape 110 at the transfer data rate of the high speed recording andreproduction and outputs the same to the ECC circuit 18 via the RECamplifier 14 and the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16.

The ECC circuit 18 sequentially corrects the error of the input audioand/or visual data, and the signal processor 20 makes the data transfercircuit 40 sequentially store the audio and/or visual data after theerror correction.

Here, for example, where a buffer memory is used instead of the datatransfer circuit as mentioned above, the control circuit 50 monitors theremaining recording capacity of the data transfer circuit and controlsthe VTR device 12 to stop the reproduction of the audio and/or visualdata where the remaining recording capacity becomes a predeterminedvalue or less and restart the reproduction of the data of the VTR device12 where the remaining recording capacity becomes larger than apredetermined value.

The ECC circuit 38 adds the ECC to the audio and/or visual data storedin the data transfer circuit. The audio and/or visual data to which theECC was added is input via the channel modulation and decoding circuit36 and the laser control circuit 34 to the MO disc device 32 andsequentially recorded on the MO disc 300.

Below, an explanation will be made of the method of editing of the audioand/or visual data using the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1.

When the above operation is ended, the operator of the data recordingand reproducing apparatus 1 inputs operation information designating areproduction position of the MO disc 300.

The MO disc device 32 reproduces the audio and/or visual data at theposition on the MO disc 202 which was designated and outputs the same tothe ECC circuit 38 via the laser control circuit 34 and the channelmodulation and decoding circuit 36.

The ECC circuit 38 corrects the error of the input audio and/or visualdata. The error-corrected audio and/or visual data is sequentiallystored in the data transfer circuit.

The control circuit 50 monitors the remaining storage capacity of thedata transfer circuit in the same way as the case where the audio and/orvisual data is input from the signal processor 20 to the data transfercircuit and controls the MO disc device 32 to stop the reproduction ofthe audio and/or visual data where the remaining recording capacitybecomes a predetermined value or less and restarts the reproduction ofthe data of the MO disc device 32 where the remaining recording capacitybecomes larger than a predetermined value.

The digital IF circuit 44 sequentially reads out the audio and/or visualdata from the data transfer circuit and displays the same on the monitordevice.

The operator of the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1repeatedly designates reproduction positions and confirms the videoimages on the monitor device to find the necessary video images andmakes the VTR device 12 record the found audio and/or visual data on thevideo tape 110 at the recording data rate of the high speed recordingand reproduction so as to perform the editing work.

Note that, in this case, when the reproduction speed of the MO discdevice 32 is made faster than the recording speed of the VTR device 12,the audio and/or visual data which is input to the MO disc device 32 isnot interrupted, therefore this is preferable.

Also, as another method of editing, a method may be adopted wherein theoperator inputs operation information designating an order ofreproduction of the recorded audio and/or visual data and a rangethereof to the MO disc 300, the MO disc device 32 reproduces the audioand/or visual data from the MO disc 300 according to this operationinformation, and the VTR device 12 records this audio and/or visualdata.

There are cases where the video data obtained by the above editing workis carried to the broadcast station via the video tape 110 and caseswhere the video data is transmitted to the broadcast station etc. via acommunication line.

Below, an explanation will be made of the operation of the datarecording and reproducing apparatus 1 when a transmission device isconnected to the digital IF circuit 44 and the audio and/or visual datais transmitted.

The operator performs the above-mentioned operation to move the editedaudio and/or visual data from the video tape 110 to the MO disc 300 inthe data recording and reproducing apparatus 1.

Further, the operator inputs the operation information for transmittingthe audio and/or visual data from the digital IF circuit 44 to the datarecording and reproducing apparatus 1.

The MO disc device 32 reads out the recording signal from the MO disc300 and outputs the same to the laser control circuit 34. The reproducedrecording signal is input to the data transfer circuit via the lasercontrol circuit 34, the channel modulation and decoding circuit 36, andthe ECC circuit 38 and stored.

The digital IF circuit 44 sequentially outputs the audio and/or visualdata input from the data transfer circuit 40 at a transmission data ratesuited to the connected transmission device.

Also at this time, the control circuit 50 controls the reproduction ofthe audio and/or visual data of the MO disc device 32 so as not to allowoverflow etc. in the data transfer circuit (buffer memory) 40.

As mentioned above, according to the data recording and reproducingapparatus 1, the VTR device 12 and the MO disc device 32 are integrallyconstituted, and therefore it is possible to perform the editing work byusing only the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1. Accordingly,editing of the audio and/or visual data can be easily carried out at thecamera site.

Also, in the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1, even if the VTRdevice 12 is not constituted so that reproduction at any reproductiondata rate is possible, the digital audio and/or visual data can betransmitted in accordance with the transmission data rate. Accordingly,a VTR device having a general configuration can be used as the VTRdevice 12 used in the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1.

Also, since it is possible to perform the data transfer between thevideo tape 110 and the MO disc 300 at a high speed during the editingwork, the efficiency of the editing work rises.

Note that the VTR device 12 was constituted so as to record andreproduce audio and/or visual data at two types of recording andreproduction data rates, but it is also possible to further increase thetype of the recording and reproduction data rates of the VTR device 12.

Moreover, it is also possible to constitute the data recording andreproducing apparatus 1 so as to use another random accessable recordingdevice, for example, an HD device, in place of the MO disc device 32.

Further, it is also possible to omit part of the constituent elements ofthe data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 in accordance with thepurpose of the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 or to furtheradd constituent elements having other functions.

Also, it does not suffer from the disadvantage if the constituentelements of the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 are realizedby hardware means or realized by software means.

Moreover, it is also possible to include a monitor device in the housing5 in the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 and constitute thedata recording and reproducing apparatus 1 so that the audio and/orvisual data reproduced by the VTR recording and reproducing device 12and the MO disc recording and reproducing device 32 or the audio and/orvisual data received by the video IF circuit 24 and the digital IFcircuit 44 can be displayed to the user.

In addition to the explanation in the first embodiment, the datarecording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention can adoptvarious configurations as in for example the modifications mentionedhere.

Second Embodiment

In the second embodiment, a further detailed configuration and operationof the data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as thefirst embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a detailed configuration of the data recordingand reproducing apparatus 1 according to the present invention shown inFIG. 1. Note that, in FIG. 3, the same constituent parts as those ofFIG. 1 are indicated by the same references.

As shown in FIG. 3, the video IF circuit 24 is constituted by an A/Dconversion circuit 240 and a D/A conversion circuit 242.

The A/D conversion circuit 240 converts the audio-video signal AIN of ananalog format supplied from an editing device of an outside apparatus,camera, etc. to audio and/or visual data of a digital format and outputsthe same to the signal processor 20.

The D/A conversion circuit 242 converts audio and/or visual data of adigital format input from the signal processor 20 to an audio and/orvisual image signal AOUT of an analog format and outputs the same to anediting device connected to an outside apparatus and a monitor device(not illustrated) etc.

The digital IF circuit 44 is constituted by a serial/parallel conversioncircuit (S/P conversion circuit) 440 and a parallel/serial conversioncircuit (P/S conversion circuit).

The S/P conversion circuit 440 receives audio and/or visual data DIN ofa serial format which is input from a communication line, converts thesame to a parallel format, and outputs it to the signal processor 20.

The P/S conversion circuit 442 converts audio and/or visual data of aparallel format input from the signal processor 20 to audio and/orvisual data DOUT of a serial format and transmits the same onto thecommunication line.

The signal processor 20 is constituted by a TBC (time base corrector)buffer circuit 200, a selector circuit (SEL) 202, and an MPEG processingcircuit 204.

The TBC buffer circuit 200 performs the buffering of the audio and/orvisual data synchronized to a clock signal including jitter, which wasinput from the video IF circuit 24 and the digital IF circuit 44,synchronizes the same with the normal clock signal, and outputs theresultant signal to the selector circuit 202.

The selector circuit 202 selects either of the audio and/or visual datainput from the TBC buffer circuit 200 and the selector circuit 404according to the control of the control circuit 50 and outputs theselected signal to the MPEG processing circuit 204.

The MPEG processing circuit 204 processes the audio and/or visual datainput from the selector circuit 202 according to need according to thecontrol of the control circuit 50. That is, where non-compressed audioand/or visual data is input, this non-compressed audio and/or visualdata is subjected to compression and encoding processing by acompression and encoding system such as for example an MPEG 2 system andwhere compressed audio and/or visual data is input, this compressedaudio and/or visual data is subjected to expansion and decodingprocessing.

The audio and/or visual data processed by the selector circuit 202 isoutput to the selector circuit 402 and an ECC encoder 180 of the ECCcircuit 18.

The ECC circuit 18 is constituted by the ECC encoder (ECCE) 180, innercode processing circuits (INNER) 190 and 192, a TS buffer circuit(TSBuff) 194, and outer code processing circuits (OUTER) 196 and 198.

The ECC encoder 180 adds the inner code and outer code to the audioand/or visual data input from the MPEG processing circuit 204 of thesignal processor 20 and outputs the resultant signal to the inner codeprocessing circuit 190.

The inner code processing circuits 190 and 192 perform the errorcorrection by using the inner code added to the audio and/or visual datawhich was reproduced from the video tape 110 by the VTR device 12 andchannel code-decoded by the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16and outputs the resultant signal to the TS buffer circuit 194.

The TS buffer circuit 194 performs the buffering of the audio and/orvisual data whose error was corrected by the inner code processingcircuits 190 and 192 and outputs the resultant signals to the outer codeprocessing circuits 196 and 198.

The outer code processing circuit 196 performs the error correction byusing the outer code added to the audio and/or visual data input fromthe TS buffer circuit 194 and outputs the resultant signal to the datatransfer circuit.

The channel modulation and decoding circuit 16 is constituted by achannel code encoder circuit (CCE circuit) 160, channel code decodercircuits (CCD circuits) 162 and 164, and a TBC circuit 166.

The CCE circuit 160 modulates the audio and/or visual data input fromthe ECC encoder 180 of the ECC circuit 18 to produce the recordingsignal and outputs the resultant signal to the REC amplifier 14.

The CCD circuits 162 and 164 demodulate the recording signal which wasreproduced by the VTR device 12 and amplified by the REC amplifier 14 toproduce the audio and/or visual data and outputs the same to the innercode processing circuits 190 and 192 of the ECC circuit 18.

The TBC circuit 166 performs jitter compensation of the recording signalinput from the REC amplifier 14 in the same way as the TBC buffercircuit 200 and outputs the resultant signal to the data transfercircuit 40.

The REC amplifier 14 is constituted by a recording amplifier (RA) 140and a reproduction amplifier (PBA, AUXPBA).

The recording amplifier 140 amplifies the recording signal input fromthe CCE circuit 160 of the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16and outputs the amplified signal to the VTR device 12.

The reproduction amplifiers 142, 144, and 146 respectively amplify therecording signal reproduced by the VTR device 12 and output theamplified signals to the CCD circuits 162 and 164 of the channelmodulation and decoding circuit 16 and the TBC circuit 166.

Note that, the REC amplifier 14 of the data recording and reproducingapparatus 1 and the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16 providethree systems of circuits, that is, a digital system circuit, an analogsystem circuit, and an AUX series, as the circuits for reproduction.That is, for example, as the inner code processing circuit 190 and theouter code processing circuit 196 of the ECC circuit 18, the CCD circuit162 of the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16 and thereproduction amplifier 142 of the REC amplifier 14 are used as thedigital system circuit; the inner code processing circuit 192 and theouter code processing circuit 198 of the ECC circuit 18, the CCD circuit164 of the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16, and thereproduction amplifier 144 of the REC amplifier 14 are used as theanalog system circuit; and the reproduction amplifier 146 of the RECamplifier 14 and the TBC circuit 166 of the channel modulation anddecoding circuit 16 are used as the AUX circuit.

The reason that the REC amplifier 14 and the channel modulation anddecoding circuit 16 provide both a digital system circuit and an analogsystem circuit is to prepare for the case where an audio and/orvisual-image signal of an analog format is recorded on the video tape110 in addition to the recording of the audio and/or visual data of thedigital format on the video tape 110.

Also, the AUX circuit is used for reproducing the auxiliary data (AUXdata) recorded on the video tape 110 together with the audio and/orvisual data (recording signal).

The ECC circuit 38 is constituted by an ECC encoder (ECCE) 380 and anECC (ECCD) decoder 382.

The ECC encoder 380 adds the ECC to the audio and/or visual data inputfrom the data transfer circuit 40 and outputs the resultant data to thechannel modulation and decoding circuit 36.

The ECC decoder 382 performs error correction by using the ECC containedin the audio and/or visual data reproduced by the MO disc device 32 anddemodulated by the channel modulation and decoding circuit 36 andoutputs the resultant signal to the data transfer circuit 40.

The channel modulation and decoding circuit 36 is constituted by a CCEcircuit 362 and a CCD circuit 364.

The CCE circuit 362 modulates the audio and/or visual data input fromthe ECC encoder 380 of the ECC circuit 38 to produce the recordingsignal and outputs the same to the laser control circuit 34.

The CCD circuit 364 demodulates the recording signal which is input fromthe laser control circuit 34 and outputs the demodulated signal to theECC decoder 382 of the ECC circuit 38.

The data transfer circuit 40 is constituted by selector circuits 402 and404, a buffer control circuit (BCONT) 410, a recording buffer circuit(Wbuff) 412, a reproduction buffer circuit (RBuff) 414, and a videoprocessor circuit (VPR) 420.

The selector circuit 402 selects either of the audio and/or visual datainput from the MPEG processing circuit 204 or the outer code processingcircuits 196 and 198 of the ECC circuit 18 according to the control ofthe control circuit 50 and outputs the selected signal to the videoprocessor circuit 420 and the recording buffer circuit 412.

The selector circuit 404 selects either of the audio and/or visual datainput from the SDI input circuit 462 or the reproduction buffer circuit414 according to the control of the control circuit 50 and outputs theselected signal to the selector circuit 202 and the video processorcircuit 420.

The recording buffer circuit 412 performs the buffering of the audioand/or visual data input from the selector circuit 402 and outputs theresultant data to the ECC encoder 380 of the ECC circuit 38.

The reproduction buffer circuit 414 performs the buffering of the audioand/or visual data input from the ECC decoder 382 of the ECC circuit 38and outputs the resultant data to the selector circuit 404.

The buffer control circuit 410 monitors the remaining recording capacityof the recording buffer circuit 412 and the reproduction buffer circuit414 when the MO disc device 32 records and reproduces the audio and/orvisual data and controls the reproduction operation and recordingoperation of the MO disc device 32 so that the recording buffer circuit412 and the reproduction buffer circuit 414 will not overflow.

The video processor circuit 420 performs predetermined processing withrespect to the audio and/or visual data input from the selector circuit402, the TBC circuit 166 of the channel modulation and decoding circuit16, and the selector circuit 404, for example processing relating to theadjustment of the signal level, superimpose processing, and characterinsertion processing, and outputs the resultant signal to the D/Aconversion circuit 242 of the video IF circuit 24, the P/S conversioncircuit 442 of the digital IF circuit 44, and the SDI output circuit460.

The SDI output circuit 460 improves on the SDI (serial data interface:SM PTE-259M) system or SDI system for the audio and/or visual data inputfrom the video processor 420 according to the control of the controlcircuit 50 and transmits the resultant audio and/or visual data to atransmission path of an SDDI (serial digital data interface) systemthrough which the transmission of the audio and/or visual data subjectedto the variable length compression and encoding was made possible.

The SDI input circuit 462 receives the audio and/or visual datatransmitted via the transmission path of the SDI system etc. and outputsthe same to the selector circuit 404.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the control of operation of the MO disc device32 by the buffer control circuit 410 shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the buffer control circuit 410 starts thereproduction operation of the MO disc device 32 (reproduction operationstarting processing) where the remaining recording capacity of thereproduction buffer circuit 414 becomes a predetermined lower limitsetting or less when the MO disc device 32 performs the reproductionoperation and stops the reproduction operation of the MO disc device 32(reproduction operation stopping processing) where the remaining storagecapacity becomes a predetermined upper limit setting or more.

Also, the buffer control circuit 410 starts the reproduction operationof the MO disc device 32 where the remaining recording capacity of therecording buffer circuit 412 becomes a predetermined lower limit settingor less when the MO disc device 32 performs the recording operation andstops the reproduction operation of the MO disc device 32 where theremaining storage capacity becomes a predetermined upper limit settingor more. In this way, the buffer control circuit 410 prevents overflowfrom occurring in at least the recording buffer circuit 412 and thereproduction buffer circuit 414.

Note that, it is also possible to constitute the apparatus so that thebuffer control circuit 410 further monitors the amount of the audioand/or visual data stored in the reproduction buffer circuit 414 and therecording buffer circuit 412 and controls the MO disc device 32 so as tohold the amount to a predetermined value or more to prevents anunderflow.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of the tape running system ofthe VTR device 12 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tape running system of the VTR device 12 isconstituted by a mechanical system 120, a drum control system 122, acapstan driving system 124, a reel motor driving system 126, and asystem control circuit 128.

The mechanical system 120 is constituted by a drum motor, a feed(supply) side reel, a rewinding (take-up) side reel, a capstan motor, apinch roller, and a control (CTL) head.

The mechanical system 120 is driven by the drum control system 122, thecapstan driving system 124, and the reel motor driving system 126, feedsout the video tape 110, and makes the video tape run on the side surfaceof the drum on which the recording head and the reproduction head arearranged.

The drum control system 122 is constituted by a drum speed detectionsensor, a drum phase detection sensor, a drum speed error detectioncircuit, a drum speed reference signal generation circuit, a drum phaseerror detection circuit, and a drum motor driving amplifier and controlsthe rotation of the drum.

The capstan driving system 124 is constituted by a capstan speeddetection sensor, a capstan phase detection sensor, a capstan speederror detection circuit, a capstan speed reference signal generationcircuit, a capstan phase error detection and a capstan motor drivingamplifier and controls the rotation of the capstan.

The reel motor driving system 126 is constituted by two reel motor speeddetection sensors, a reel speed error detection circuit, a tensionsensor, a tension error detection circuit, a mode control circuit, and areel motor driving amplifier and controls the rotation of the reelmotor.

The system control circuit 128 synchronizes the operations of the drumcontrol system 122, the capstan driving system 124, and the reel motordriving system 126 according to the control of the control circuit 50(FIG. 1 and FIG. 3) and performs control so that the rotations of thedrum motor of the mechanical system 120, the capstan, and the reel motorare always synchronized.

The system control circuit 128 makes the drum control system 122, thecapstan driving system 124, and the reel motor driving system 126operate in synchronization, whereby even in a case where the rotationalspeeds of the drum motor, capstan, and reel motor are changed, therelationship between the feed of the video tape 110 and the rotationalspeed of the drum can be held constant, and as shown in FIG. 2, thetrack on the video tape 110 can be followed.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the configuration of the MO disc device 32shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 6, the MO disc device 32 is constituted by an opticalsystem 320, a system control circuit 350, a tracking servo circuit 354,a focus servo circuit 356, a radial servo circuit 358, a disc servocircuit 360, and a spindle motor 370.

The optical system 320 is constituted by a fixed portion 322 and amovable portion 340.

The fixed portion 322 is constituted by an HF superimposing circuit 324,a laser diode 326, prisms 328 and 330, a photodiode 332, and apreamplifier 334.

The movable portion 340 is constituted by a prism 342 and a lens system344.

The system control circuit 350 controls the operation of the constituentparts of the MO disc device 32 according to an operation control signalBC input from the buffer control circuit 410 and the control from thecontrol circuit 50.

Where the audio and/or visual data is recorded on the MO disc 300, therecording signal is input from the channel modulation and decodingcircuit 36 to the laser control circuit 34. The laser control circuit 34produces a drive signal for driving the laser diode 326 based on therecording signal.

The HF superimposing circuit 324 superimposes the high frequency signal(HF) on the drive signal, and the laser diode 326 irradiates the laserbeam on which the high frequency signal is superimposed to the MO disc300 via the movable portion 340 to record the recording signal (audioand/or visual data) on the MO disc 300.

Where audio and/or visual data is reproduced from the MO disc 300, thelaser control circuit 34 produces a drive signal for generating a laserbeam for reproduction.

The HF superimposing circuit 324 superimposes the high frequency signal(HF) on the drive signal, and the laser diode 326 irradiates the laserbeam for reproduction to the MO disc 300 via the movable portion 340.The photodiode 332 detects the laser beam containing the recordingsignal which was reflected at the MO disc 300 and returned via themovable portion 340, converts the same to an electrical RF signal, andoutputs the same to the RF circuit 372.

The RF circuit 372 performs the equalization processing etc. withrespect to the RF signal and outputs the resultant signal as therecording signal to the channel modulation and decoding circuit 36.

Below, an explanation will be made of the operation of the datarecording and reproducing apparatus 1 by paying attention to the routeof the audio and/or visual data in the data recording and reproducingapparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 (signal route).

First Signal Route

The audio and/or visual data which was input to the A/D conversioncircuit 240 of the video IF circuit 24 and converted to the digitalformat is input to the signal processor 20.

The TBC buffer circuit 200 of the signal processor 20 performs thejitter correction of the input audio and/or visual data and outputs theresultant data to the MPEG processing circuit 204 via the selectorcircuit 202. The MPEG processing circuit 204 compresses and encodes theinput audio and/or visual data by the MPEG 2 system and outputs theresultant data to the ECC encoder 180 of the ECC circuit 18.

The ECC encoder 180 of the ECC circuit 18 adds the ECC to the compressedand encoded audio and/or visual data. The audio and/or visual data towhich the ECC was added is input to the VTR device 12 via the channelmodulation and decoding circuit 16 and the REC amplifier 14 and recordedon the video tape 110.

In this way, the VTR device 12 can record the audio and/or visual datainput from the video IF circuit 24.

Second Signal Route

The audio and/or visual data which was input to the signal processor 20via the S/P conversion circuit 440 of the digital IF circuit 44 andsubjected to the predetermined processing is output to the VTR device 12via the ECC encoder 180 of the ECC circuit 18, the CCE circuit 160 ofthe channel modulation and decoding circuit 16, and the recordingamplifier 140 of the REC amplifier 14 in the same way as the audioand/or visual data input to the A/D conversion circuit 240, which wasexplained referring to the first signal route.

The VTR device 12 rotates the drum motor, the capstan motor, and thereel motor at a rotational speed in accordance with the transmissiondata rate of the digital IF circuit 44 according to the control of thecontrol circuit 50 and records the data on the video tape 110.

In this way, the VTR device 12 can record the audio and/or visual datainput from the digital IF circuit 44 on the video tape 110 at the samerecording data rate as the transmission data rate of the communicationline etc. connected to the digital IF circuit.

Third Signal Route

The audio and/or visual data DIN input from the communication lineconnected to the S/P conversion circuit 440 of the digital IF circuit 44at the predetermined transmission data rate is input to the D/Aconversion circuit 242 of the video IF circuit 24 after passing throughthe signal processor 20.

The D/A conversion circuit 242 converts the input audio and/or visualdata to an audio and/or visual signal of the analog format and displaysthe same on for example the monitor device connected to the D/Aconversion circuit 242.

In this way, the audio and/or visual data DIN input to the S/Pconversion circuit 440 is converted to the audio and/or visual data AOUTby the D/A conversion circuit 242 and output and displayed on the deviceetc., whereby monitoring of the audio and/or visual signal transmittedvia the communication line or monitoring of the camera become possible.

Fourth Signal Route

The VTR device 12 rotates the drum motor, the capstan motor, and thereel motor in accordance with the required reproduction data rateaccording to the control of the control circuit 50 and reproduces therecording signal from the video tape 110. Further, the VTR device 12outputs the reproduced recording signal to either of the reproductionamplifier 142 or 144 of the REC amplifier 14.

The recording signal amplified at the REC amplifier 14 is regarded asaudio and/or visual data by either of the CCD circuit 162 or 164 of thechannel modulation and decoding circuit 16, subjected to bufferingprocessing as shown in FIG. 4 by the selector circuit 402 of the datatransfer circuit 40, the recording buffer circuit 412, and the buffercontrol circuit 410, and output to the ECC circuit 38.

The ECC encoder 380 of the ECC circuit 38 adds the ECC to the inputaudio and/or visual data, which is modulated by the CCE circuit 362 ofthe channel modulation and decoding circuit 36, and output it as therecording signal to the MO disc device 32. The MO disc device 32 recordsthe input recording signal on the MO disc 300.

In this way, the MO disc device 32 can record the audio and/or visualdata reproduced from the video tape 110 by the VTR device 12 on the MOdisc 300.

Fifth Signal Route

The MO disc device 32 reproduces the recording signal from the MO disc300 and outputs the reproduced signal to the CCD circuit 364 of thechannel modulation and decoding circuit 36 via the laser control circuit34. The CCD circuit 364 demodulates the audio and/or visual data fromthe recording signal, and the ECC decoder 382 of the ECC circuit 38performs the error correction processing with respect to the audioand/or visual data and outputs the resultant signal to the reproductionbuffer circuit 414 of the data transfer circuit 40.

The buffer control circuit 410 and the reproduction buffer circuit 414perform the buffering processing for the input audio and/or visual dataas shown in FIG. 4 and output the same to the P/S conversion circuit 442of the digital IF circuit 44 via the selector circuit 404 and the videoprocessor circuit 420. The P/S conversion circuit 442 outputs the audioand/or visual data DOUT to the connected communication line.

At this time, the buffer control circuit 410 of the data transfercircuit 40 controls also the operation of the MO disc device 32 as shownin FIG. 4 to make the same to perform the reproduction operation inaccordance with the transmission data rate for output to the outsideapparatus.

In this way, the audio and/or visual data reproduced by the MO datarecording and reproducing device 32 can be transmitted to thecommunication line connected to the P/S conversion circuit 442 of thedigital IF circuit 44.

Sixth Signal Route

The MO disc device 32 reproduces the recording signal from the MO disc300 and outputs the reproduced signal to the channel modulation anddecoding circuit 36 via the laser control circuit 34.

The CCD circuit 364 of the channel modulation and decoding circuit 36demodulates the audio and/or visual data from the recording signal andoutputs the resultant signal to the reproduction buffer circuit 414 ofthe data transfer circuit 40 via the ECC circuit 38 and the ECC decoder382.

The buffer control circuit 410 and the reproduction buffer circuit 414perform the buffering processing for the input audio and/or visual dataas shown in FIG. 4 and outputs the resultant signal to the ECC encoder180 of the ECC circuit 18 via the selector circuit 202 of the signalprocessor 20 and the MPEG processing circuit 204.

The ECC encoder 180 adds the ECC to the audio and/or visual data andoutputs the resultant data to the VTR device 12 via the CCE circuit 160of the channel modulation and decoding circuit 16 and the recordingamplifier 140 of the REC amplifier 14.

The VTR device 12 rotates the drum motor, capstan motor, and reel motorat the rotational speed in accordance with the required recording datarate according to the control of the control circuit 50 and records theaudio and/or visual data on the video tape 110.

In this way, the VTR device 12 can record the audio and/or visual datareproduced from the MO disc 300 by the MO disc device 32 on the videotape 110.

Seventh Signal Route

The audio and/or visual data which was input to the signal processor 20via the S/P conversion circuit 440 of the digital IF circuit 44 or theA/D conversion circuit 240 of the video IF circuit 24 and subjected tothe predetermined processing is input to the recording buffer circuit412.

The buffer control circuit 410 and the recording buffer circuit 412perform the buffering processing shown in FIG. 4 with respect to theinput audio and/or visual data and output the resultant data to the CCEcircuit 362 of the channel modulation and decoding circuit 36 via theECC encoder 380 of the ECC circuit 38.

The CCE circuit 362 modulates the input audio and/or visual data toproduce the recording signal and outputs the same to the MO disc device32 via the laser control circuit 34.

The MO disc device 32 records the recording signal input from the lasercontrol circuit 34 on the MO disc 300.

In this way, the MO disc recording and reproducing device 32 can recordthe audio and/or visual data input from the outside apparatus via theA/D conversion circuit 240 of the video IF circuit 24 or the S/Pconversion circuit 440 of the digital IF circuit 44 on the MO disc 300.

Note that, the audio and/or visual data output from the video processorcircuit 420 can be transmitted also to the transmission path of the SDIsystem via the SDI input circuit 462.

Moreover, also the audio and/or visual data input from the transmissionpath of the SDI system etc. via the SDI input circuit 462 is recorded bythe VTR device 12 and the MO disc device 32 or can be output from theD/A conversion circuit 242 and the P/S conversion circuit 442.

As mentioned above, by giving the configuration as shown in FIG. 3 tothe data recording and reproducing apparatus 1 according to the presentinvention, the input/output and recording and reproduction of the audioand/or visual data can be carried out at any data rate among anyelements selected from among the VTR device 12, the MO disc device 32,and the outside apparatus (communication line, monitor device, thetransmission path of the SDI system, etc.).

As mentioned above, according to the data recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of VTR devicesare not required in the editing work of the audio-video data and theaudio-video data can be easily edited at the camera site.

Also, the data recording and reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention has a simple configuration and is low in cost even though ithas a variable recording and reproduction data rate and transmissiondata rate.

Also, according to the data recording and reproducing apparatus of thepresent invention, it is possible to enhance the efficiency of theediting work by improving the transfer data rate when a plurality ofaudio and/or visual data are connected to one audio and/or visual data.

Also, the data recording and reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention can transmit the audio and/or visual data obtained as a resultof editing at a plurality of transmission data rates and has littlerestriction in the method of transmission.

1. A data recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a datatransfer means; a first input/out means connected to said data transfermeans for receiving a first analog audio-visual signal, converting saidfirst analog audio-visual signal to a digital format, and providing theconverted first digital audio-visual signal to the data transfer means,and for receiving digital audio-visual data from said data transfermeans, converting said digital audio-visual data to an analog format,and outputting said converted analog audio-visual data as a secondanalog audio-visual signal; a second input/output means connected tosaid data transfer means for receiving third audio-visual data andproviding said third audio-visual data to said data transfer means, andfor receiving fourth audio-visual data transferred from said datatransfer means and outputting said fourth audio-visual data; a taperecording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing either orboth of audio data and video data of a digital format, the taperecording and reproducing means being connected to said data transfermeans so that data may be transferred from the data transfer means andrecorded by the tape recording and reproducing means in a tape recordingmedium, and audio-visual data reproduced from said tape recording mediumby said tape recording and reproducing means may be provided to the datatransfer means; and a disc recording and reproducing means connected tosaid data transfer means so that audio-visual data may be transferredfrom said data transfer means to said disc recording and reproducingmeans and recorded in a disc recording medium which may be randomlyaccessed, and so that audio-visual data reproduced from said discrecording medium by disc recording and reproducing means may be providedto the data transfer means; said data transfer means including buffercontrol means for controlling recording and reproduction of said discrecording and reproducing means according to remaining capacity of atleast one buffering means for buffering audio-visual data; wherein thedata transfer means includes an input buffering means performing thebuffering of said audio visual data input from said disc recording andreproducing means, an output buffering means performing the buffering ofsaid audio-visual data that is transferred to said disc recording andreproducing means, and a recording and reproducing control meanscontrolling each of the reproducing operation and recording operation ofsaid disc recording and reproducing means in accordance with respectiveremaining recording capacities of the input buffering means and saidoutput buffering means; wherein the data transfer means selectablytransfers audio-visual data among any of the tape recording andreproducing means, the disc recording and reproducing means, the firstinput/output means, and the second input/output means; and wherein thedisc recording and reproducing means is a magneto-optic disk.
 2. A datarecording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a housing; a datatransfer means provided in said housing; a first input/out meansconnected to said data transfer means for receiving a first analogaudio-visual signal, converting said first analog audio-visual signal toa digital format, and providing the converted first digital audio-visualsignal to the data transfer means, and for receiving digitalaudio-visual data from said data transfer means, converting said digitalaudio-visual data to an analog format, and outputting said convertedanalog audio-visual data as a second analog audio-visual signal; asecond input/output means connected to said data transfer means forreceiving third audio-visual data and providing said third audio-visualdata to said data transfer means, and for receiving fourth audio-visualdata transferred from said data transfer means and outputting saidfourth audio-visual data; a tape recording and reproducing meansprovided in said housing for recording and reproducing either or both ofaudio data and video data of a digital format, the tape recording andreproducing means being connected to said data transfer means so thatdata may be transferred from the data transfer means and recorded by thetape recording and reproducing means in a tape recording medium, andaudio-visual data reproduced from said tape recording medium by saidtape recording and reproducing means may be provided to the datatransfer means; and a disc recording and reproducing means provided insaid housing and connected to said data transfer means so thataudio-visual data may be transferred from said data transfer means tosaid disc recording and reproducing means and recorded in a discrecording medium which may be randomly accessed, and so thataudio-visual data reproduced from said disc recording medium by discrecording and reproducing means may be provided to the data transfermeans; said data transfer means including buffer control means forcontrolling recording and reproduction of said disc recording andreproducing means according to remaining capacity of at least onebuffering means for buffering audio-visual data; wherein the datatransfer means includes an input buffering means performing thebuffering of said audio visual data input from said disc recording andreproducing means, an output buffering means performing the buffering ofsaid audio-visual data that is transferred to said disc recording andreproducing means, and a recording and reproducing control meanscontrolling each of the reproducing operation and recording operation ofsaid disc recording and reproducing means in accordance with respectiveremaining recording capacities of the input buffering means and saidoutput buffering means; wherein the data transfer means selectablytransfers audio-visual data among any of the tape recording andreproducing means, the disc recording and reproducing means, the firstinput/output means, and the second input/output means; and wherein thedisc recording and reproducing means is a magneto-optic disk.